Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-09-14
Wednesday, September "a, 1887.

THE situation Of the beef market Is
O matter in which everybody has an
interest. The investigation and die
cussion of the subject nov In progress
ought to result in accurate informa-
tion regarding the causes which have
produced a partial decentralization Of
the cattle business, an explanation of
the reason why the consumer has con-
tinued to pay a high price for beef
while cattle deprecated to figures
which left no profit for the stock men,
and an uncertainty of VINO have
reaped the biggest profits. One fact is
established, and that Is that the con-
sumers of the country at large have
not found their roasis and steaks
cheapening in price with the decline
of cattle. The butchers have main
tanned their charges regardless OF
what the stock men were compelled to
accept, meeting every suggestion Of a
reduction with the assurance that they
had to pay just as much as eve for de-
sirable meat. Ii is equally certain
that for a considerable time the cattle
rsis.rs have not been making money.
For a year past they have been en-.
gagged 10 efforts to devise plans for inn
proving their position and for mutual
protection, and 1t is only now that
they are beginning to see q promise Of
more favorable conditions. 1t has
been suspected and charged that the
dressed beef interest was making all
the money. A great deal has been
written about the ring controlling
the trade with respect to its unfair
manipulation of the market, its un-
lawful compact with railroads, and its
unjust and despotic treatment OF the
cattle men. In reply to all this Mr.. p.
D. Armour says that the whole trouble
comes from over-productioD, and that
the idea of monopoly and the tremen.
dous profits Of the dressed beef men IL
absurd. The business is open to any
body who may wish to go into it.
This statement OF the case may not be
entirely convincing. but 1t comes from
very high authority, aud the enquirer
must perforce look elsewhere in the eff
forts TO find where the profits 20. The
best evidence at hand shows that the
railroads get the largest share OF
them. Mr.. Armour says that they
get more out of the cattle business
than anybody else, and a better re.
turn than for any other class of bust
ness they do. The Chicago Tribune,
which has teen giving very careful in
vestigation to this subject, points out
that it Is the railroads that are really
getting about all the advantages from
TIE cattle business. Before the inter.
state commerce law went i~ntoleffect
the railroads charged 65 cents a hun,
bred TO ship beef TO New York and
gave q rebate OF 20 cents. There hai
been no change in the rate, but now
the railroads keep the whole Of il. The
20 cents that In other years was the
profit Of the dressed beef men should
In fairness now 20 to the consumers,
but instead II swells the Golfers of the
railroad companies. The question
whether the present rate is not unres.
sonable In view Of tie fact that In past
years the railroads were satisfied with
20 cents less is TO be passed upon by
the interstate commerce commission.
but 1t is questionable whether there ID
in this any hope for the consumers
The Interstate commerce law de
stroyed the compact between the
dressed beef ring and the railroads
thereby materially reducing the
profits and lessening the mischievoui
power Of the former, but these result
have been no advantage to the con
sumers, for the s that what tn
ring lost the railroads gained. Tn,
dressed beef men are now engaged IL
q conflict with the railroads from
which the general public may ulti
mstely reap some benefit, but this car
not be regarded as assured. The fac
Is, that unless the existing dressed
beef monopoly is utterly broken. ant
the railroads brought to such rates q
their past course has shown to be sat
i~sfactorily profitable TO them, no yer.
msterial relief can be expected 70
either the cattle men or thecoDsumer
Of beef. -Omsha Bee.
Tur dealers In milk WIN sunni